Contractor Resources

The following manuals, guides, specifications, and forms are provided to help you do business with IDOT.

Standard Specifications

The following outlines the general requirements and covenants applicable to all highway construction improvements as well as provisions relating to materials, equipment, and construction requirements for individual items of work on projects awarded by the department.

Hard copies of these books can be purchased, and include the Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction. To order, please navigate to Manuals Sales.

Supplemental Specifications and Recurring Special Provisions

This book contains additions and revisions to the Standard Specifications. The Supplemental Specifications are considered part of and should always be used in conjunction with the Standard Specifications. This book is updated every year.

Hard copies of these books are not sold separately, but are included with the purchase of the Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction. To order both books, please navigate to Manuals Sales.

Highways

The following are manuals, guides and forms provided to comply with construction projects for IDOT and local entities.

Manuals & Guides

Construction Manual

The IDOT Construction Manual is compiled to clarify the IDOT Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction and to suggest uniform procedures in highway construction field work. The manual is organized similar to the Standard Specifications.

Construction Memorandums are issued by IDOT's Bureau of Construction to distribute policy information. Please navigate to Construction Memorandums for a list of updates within the past year and a list of memorandums.

Documentation of Contract Quantities

The Documentation of Contract Quantities Guide (or “Documentation Guide” for short) is the documentation section of IDOT’s Construction Manual, containing policies which represent the minimum documentation requirements for use by construction personnel for the proper documentation of day to day events as well as contract pay quantities on the state’s highway construction projects. Each IDOT district may require additional documentation due to conditions specific to the District.

Highway Standards

Highway Standards show the details of various construction items and are used in conjunction with the Standard Specifications. The applicable Standards are referenced on the cover sheet of the plans. To view the most current DGN files please navigate to Highways Standards.

Inspector Checklists

Construction Inspector's Checklists are issued by IDOT's Bureau of Construction to provide guidance to IDOT and local agency employees for the performance of required inspection for the major categories of work involved in department contracts.

Local Roads & Streets Manual

IDOT's Bureau of Local Roads and Streets publishes and maintains a manual which establishes uniform policies and procedures for the location, design, and environmental evaluation of highway construction projects on the local highway system. The purpose of this policy is to compile the policies and procedures which govern project location, design, and environmental evaluation into one comprehensive manual.

As of January 1, 2006, all design approvals will be based on the most current electronic version of this manual unless a variance is granted.

Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD)

The Illinois Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (IMUTCD) consists of the National Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (NMUTCD) issued by the Federal Highway Administration as amended by the Illinois Supplement to the MUTCD. Please access the federal MUTCD at the FHWA website for more information.

In the interest of statewide uniformity, forward requests for interpretations, experimentation, and changes to the MUTCD or IL Supplement to dot.ilmutcd@illinois.gov

Project Procedure Guide

All materials used on a project must have evidence of materials inspection, in other words, there must be proof that the materials incorporated into the work meet specification. IDOT's Bureau of Materials is used as a resource for determining reasonable inspection procedures and sampling frequencies for materials used in highway construction. This guide seeks to establish materials sampling and testing uniformity throughout the state by providing sampling schedules which list the minimum frequencies at which samples and measurements shall be taken by project, plant, and IDOT's district personnel.

This guide applies to all projects constructed on the state system and all local agency improvement projects with federal, state, or MFT funds. Specific exceptions to this Manual for Local Agency work are indicated in the current Local Roads and Streets Manual(s) or by circular letter.

Roadside Maintenance

Navigate to the Roadside Maintenance webpage to view detailed information about invasive species and prairie inventories along side our roadways.

Letting Specific Items

BDE Special Provisions

IDOT’s Bureau of Design and Environment (BDE) issues the BDE Special Provisions four times a year. They are inserted into contracts as they apply. Please navigate to the BDE Special Provisions webpage for a listing of these materials.

Coded Pay Items

The Coded Pay Items are updated seven times each year. Each updated codebook corresponds with a regularly scheduled IDOT Letting. If a Special Letting is held, the most recent update prior to the Special Letting should be used.

Materials

Approved Labs

If you are interested in becoming or working with an approved lab that performs material testing on behalf of IDOT please choose from the following: Cement, Concrete, Soils.

Pavement Marking Contractors

Placement of thermoplastic, epoxy, and polyurea pavement markings shall only be performed by contractors approved by IDOT's Engineer of Operations. IDOT maintains a list of contractors who are currently approved to perform this work.